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Monday, November 24, 2014

NARCISO by Narciso Rodriguez: Fragrance Review

A new fragrance launch is always exciting especially when it comes from Narciso Rodriguez. I have been in love with the brand's hugely successful For Her fragrance for years now and I think it is truly a modern classic. Needless to say, I was very excited to hear that Narciso Rodriguez was finally going to release a new pillar fragrance for women, entitled NARCISO.

“I wanted to create an extremely sexy fragrance that would turn a man’s head,” said Narciso Rodriguez. Indeed, he succeeded in doing so. NARCISO is all that and more.

The fragrance feature notes of white musk, vetiver, gardenia, bulgarian rose, cedar, amber. They are all combined in perfect harmony to create a sensual, modern scent. From the very opening of the fragrance, you can tell this is a Narciso Rodriguez scent. NARCISO is unique in its own right but it is also FOR HER's kindred spirit. They are both in the same 'musk' family, but each of them is beautiful and one of a kind. The main players in NARCISO are white musk, gardenia, vetiver and cedar. The amber and bulgarian rose are there too in the background, keeping the perfect balance. On my skin, the opening of NARCISO features mostly gardenia and white musk and after a short while the vetiver and cedar shine through as well, backed up by a slightly powdery amber.

NARCISO is the scent of duality. The official description of the fragrance captures its essence perfectly: "the fragrance challenges a traditionally masculine note, vetiver, to become an olfactory accord that encapsulates intense femininity. A disarming duality lends the fragrance depth and intrigue: strength and vulnerability, rawness and refinement." That's exactly what NARCISO is. It is sophisticated, but at the same time it feels like it has an intriguing simplicity to it. In the words of Leonardo da Vinci: "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Make no mistake, NARCISO is a complex, fully textured scent. After the effervescence of the opening notes, the fragrance settles into a lovely skin scent, that feels plush and polished, silky and creamy, with the Narciso Rodriguez trademark musky dimension. The musk is not just another base note, it is the very center of the scent around which everything else revolves.

NARCISO is a genius composition. Urban, understated, it perfectly compliments the brand's aesthetic. It is impeccably executed and very versatile. You can dress it up, you can dress it down. It can be whatever you want it to be. It is sensual, voluptuous, but at the same time warm and unassuming. It is bold but also subtle. (the duality I was referring to above is present throughout). NARCISO has a special radiance to it, it seems to fill up a room effortlessly.

Beautifully and cleverly structured, NARCISO exudes modern-day elegance. It has a very distinct personality, yet you know it's Narciso Rodriguez. One of the things that I admire the most about the fragrance is that it seems to come from within the skin, it becomes part of you, it melts beautifully into the skin.

To be able to offer something different and unique that is still cohesive with the brand's existing fragrance portfolio is never an easy task. NARCISO does it admirably and this is why I think it is masterfully crafted.

The minimalist chic packaging is perfection. The milky white glass cube, the clean cut lines, the neutral/nude colours, the finesse with which it is executed, they all suit the smell of the fragrance and Narciso Rodriguez' designs. "Black, white and nude are my essential colors,” says Rodriguez. “Each
time I start a collection, I start with these colors; they are the
elemental colors we refer to from the beginning.”

Verdict: NARCISO is a superb fragrance, one of the very best of 2014. I highly recommend it.

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About Me

My name is Smaranda and I'm currently located in Romania. I have been a radio dj/host for as long as I can remember, since 1991. I have also worked as music director, trained others, did radio programming, editing and research. I am also a freelance writer, I cover beauty, fragrances, fashion, movies and music. I have written numerous pieces and reviews for various radio shows and websites. I like beautiful things, witty people, good books, yummy food. I don't like formalities or conventions. I have many interests ranging from beauty and perfumes to music and movies, fashion, the internet, design, travel, photography, art.